If Objects Could Talk

By GettyArts Kids & Family Stories for Kids Education for Kids Visual Arts

If Objects Could Talk episodes

October 05 A Griffin Sees It All
One giant blue orb dotted with stars, six griffins, 12 zodiac symbols, 18 candle holders, countless crystals—and even a bowl to fill with goldfish! Have you ever seen something so elaborate just hanging from the ceiling?
This is the description of an extraordinary chandelier, made around 1819 to hang in a fancy French home, perhaps over a dining table. Imagine eating dinner with a goldfish overhead!
In this episode, one of the griffins shares how her bronze body turned to gold, as well as her centuries-old gossip from dinner parties past—including the story of one quiet, observant little girl. For the griffin and the girl, the magic is in noticing the details.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like a recipe for your own mille-fueille. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about recipes and food across time or French culture in the 19th century? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at [email protected].
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
Learn more about all we do for art on our website:
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
14 min
September 28Resting Bust Face
Why is The Vexed Man making that scrunched up face? Has he tasted a lemon? Smelled a skunk? Nope—that’s just his thinking face!
This intensely tense alabaster sculpture of a head is used to people staring and trying to do their own versions of his extreme expression. Take it from him, though, it feels much nicer to relax than to be so stiff all the time.
Hear this sculpture’s story of alabaster carving and 18th-century Vienna, followed by a relaxing breathing exercise—because even if you’re not made of stone, you still might need to loosen up a little!
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like a meditation for when you’re feeling particularly vexed. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, do you need a meditation moment? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at [email protected].
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
Learn more about all we do for art on our website:
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
14 min
September 21Purrquoise the Traveling Cat
As soon as he arrived in Los Angeles, Purrquoise, the turquoise cat, was a star. But this charismatic kitty traveled a long way to get here! Made in China in the 1750s, he moved by ship to France, where he padded around with the rich and famous—like Madame de Pompadour, noted companion of King Louis XV—as well as those who served them. After a few centuries there, he traveled across the Atlantic and settled in at the Getty Museum in 2024.
Adjusting to a new culture takes time, an open mind, and an adventurous spirit. Hear about 18th-century trade and travel and the importance of changing perspectives in this adventuresome cat’s tail, er, tale.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like exploring how trade shapes your world. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about the history of trade or France leading up to the Revolution? This episode and its listening guide are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at [email protected].
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
Learn more about all we do for art on our website:
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
14 min
September 14The Magnificent Microscope and the Fabulous Flea
It’s a knight! It’s a cat! No, it’s a…flea?
Picture it: the French countryside, 1751. A young flea prepares for his moment in the spotlight—of a magnificent gold and sharkskin microscope. This compound microscope was the height of scientific knowledge, showcasing both the newest technology and fashionable design. It allowed people—including science lovers like King Louis XV—to discover new worlds in small things.
In this first episode of season two, learn about compound microscopes, the Enlightenment, and what “rococo” means.
Like this episode? Head to the website (www.getty.edu/ioct) for a listening guide, where you’ll find discussion topics and related activities, like how to create your own journal of the natural world. We also have a coloring page featuring this week’s star!
Teachers, are you teaching about the history of science or the basics of scientific thinking? This episode and the related videos linked on our website, including one that showcases how the microscope works, are great resources for the classroom or to send home to families.
If you're enjoying the show, don't forget to leave us a rating or review!
These stories are based on historical research and evidence, but some of the characters and scenarios are fictionalized. If you have questions, write to us or send us a voice memo! You can reach us at [email protected].
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation merges art history with mindfulness meditations: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
Learn more about all we do for art on our website:
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
13 min
July 09Coming Soon: Bastille Day (and Season 2)
Announcing Season 2, this mini-episode features Purrquoise, a bright turquoise porcelain cat that was made in China in the 1700s and has traveled the world ever since. Now that he’s made himself at home in Los Angeles, he’s ready to pitch his script all about the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution.
Of course, if he can’t get that movie made, he’s still excited to announce that If Objects Can Talk returns this fall with ten more stories from adventurous, luxurious—and sometimes very silly—objects, including Purrquoise himself!
Feeling inspired to celebrate Bastille Day? Learn more on our website and in our listening guide! Visit: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/introducing-season-two/
For more art history insights, check out our other Getty Podcasts shows at www.getty.edu/podcasts
OMMM: Our Museum Mindfulness Meditation is part art history, part guided meditation: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/ommm/
Recording Artists tells artist biographies using archival material from the Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recording-artists/
ReCurrent chronicles the people who shape our culture and keep the past alive: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/recurrent/
Art + Ideas showcases interviews with artists, architects, scientists, and cultural luminaries by former Getty President Jim Cuno: https://www.getty.edu/podcasts/art-and-ideas/
Through its programs—Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Foundation, Getty Museum, Getty Research Institute, and Getty Trust—Getty shares and advances the world’s visual art and cultural heritage, both in Los Angeles and throughout the world.
Learn more about all we do for art on our website:
Getty: https://www.getty.edu/
Getty Conservation Institute: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/
Getty Foundation: https://www.getty.edu/foundation/
Getty Museum: https://www.getty.edu/museum/
Getty Research Institute: https://www.getty.edu/research/
5 min
March 06 (Rerun) Snake Charm on Your Arm
(Rerun) How does a snake bracelet celebrate her favorite holiday? Learn about gold jewelry, the meaning of snakes for ancient Egyptians, and the Roman holiday of Saturnalia from this snake who knows all the best secrets!

For a listening guide, a coloring sheet, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.
Come see the bracelet in person at the Getty Villa in gallery 216!
11 min
February 02 Going for Glory: A History of the Ancient Olympics
You probably know that the Olympics started in ancient Greece, but did you know that they started as just a single running race? Or that the athletes—all male—competed naked and covered in oil?
As the world gears up to watch athletes from nearly 100 countries compete in ice skating and bob sledding (two sports the Greeks would have been shocked at!), we had to know more about where the Olympics came from nearly 3000 years ago!
Learn all about the early Olympic games in this bonus conversation with archaeologist Shelby Brown.
Visit the episode website for images of art that teach us about Greek athletic competitions and for an episode transcript.
Read more about the ancient Olympics and other Greek athletic competitions on Getty's website: https://www.getty.edu/news/the-getty-villa-guide-to-the-ancient-olympics/
13 min
January 26 Introducing Constant Wonder Kids: Do Plants Think?
This season on If Objects Could Talk we imagined what would happen if museum objects could talk. But have you ever wondered if plants could talk?
To dig into this question, we’re sharing an episode from Constant Wonder Kids. Through a conversation with science writer Zoë Schlanger, this episode investigates how plants seem to communicate, hear, see, and even think!
Constant Wonder Kids is a family-friendly podcast that sparks curiosity about plants, animals, and natural phenomena. Through conversations with scientists, explorers, and artists, Constant Wonder Kids helps kids (and the adults who love them) discover ways to feel awe and wonder in the natural world. To learn more, visit https://www.byuradio.org/constant-wonder-kids.
18 min
December 17, 2025 Your Ultimate Saturnalia Gift Guide!
From bad poetry and papyrus to candles and boar, give the gifts any Roman would love to receive with our Ultimate Saturnalia Gift Guide! (Cue the air horns.)
In this special episode, a carved doll has combed the ancient literature to bring you timeless gift advice for the holiday season. Io Saturnalia!
For a listening guide filled with Roman-inspired DIY gifts, images, and more, visit getty.edu/podcasts/if-objects-could-talk/.
9 min
December 15, 2025 Culture Kids Collab: You're Invited to an Ancient Roman Dinner Party! (Part 2)
This week we’re sharing part two of our collaboration with the Culture Kids podcast. (Head back to the feed for part one if you haven't listened yet!)
Asher and his mom Kristen join If Objects Could Talk producer Zoe on the Culture Train Time Machine for an unforgettable visit to ancient Rome. Together, they tiptoe into a glowing triclinium, the Roman dining room, to watch a real dinner party happening over two thousand years ago!
You’ll discover how ancient Romans lit up the night, what they wore to make room for dinner, and what foods they ate.
Hear more from Culture Kids on your favorite podcast app and at https://www.culturekidsmedia.com/.
17 min

About If Objects Could Talk

From the publisher's feed

What is Athena's owl doing in the Greek marketplace? How can a clock tell time in the dark? On If Objects Could Talk, art and artifacts leave the museum vault and come alive to share their side of the story. Featuring objects from the Getty Museum collection, each episode introduces listeners to the history, creation, and everyday use of incredible items like an Egyptian cat statue, a Rococo microscope, and a glass flask shaped like a fish. Voice actors and immersive sound design bring these historical fiction tales to life. Find coloring pages, discussion guides, and related activities on the pages for each episode.